memoranda to the Chief Minister, the Water Resources Minister, the
Forest Minister, the Revenue Minister and the Leader of the Opposition
on Friday demanding the constitution of a statutory body during the
coming Assembly session itself for the protection of Sasthamcotta
fresh water lake. General convener of the samithi Odanavattam
Vijayaprakash said without a statutory body for its protection, the
lake would be in peril. He said no particular department was in full
ownership of the lake. As per information gathered from the
government, the water part of the lake is owned by the Kerala Water
Authority, its banks by the Revenue Department and the trees planted
along the banks are owned by the Forest Department. But when it comes
to the overall protection of the lake, there was no collective
responsibility or individual interest on the part any department, he
said. Mr. Vijayaprakash said as a result of the neglect, 15 per cent
of the lake had already been covered with water lilies and the plants
had spread at a fast pace threatening to choke the lake. The breaching
of the nearby Pattakadavu bund posed a threat of saline water seeping
into the lake. Yet the authorities were not showing any interest in
protecting the lake. This was in spite of the fact that the lake was
the drinking water source for over five-lakh people. Mr. Vijayaprakash
wanted the statutory body to comprise representations from all
departments concerned and environmentalists.
The Hindu, June 20
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